One of the key "features" I wanted in my pit was the ability to fly almost any type of AC. Using FSXpand I should be able to get this going. Here is a quick setup for the King Air 300 that I love to fly.

Still , I need controls, the keyboard and mouse don't cut it

Ill mess with the aperture settings on my next shot

You should check out the stuff at http://www.elliesystems.com/

They've released their PFD and ND so far and are on track to release a set of standby gauges. The beauty of their design is that it's modular - if you just want the ND it'll work on it's own. (The prices put PM to shame too!)

Ian

(ps prompted by the fact that the FreeFD author now produces the Ellie stuff)

JSpahn wrote on Aug 2^nd, 2008 at 8:33am:


They have some nice stuff. Now I am really confused.

I want to get one package from someone. It looks like that may not be possible since they all have different items in production or coming soon.

Can someone put together a list (even if it is from different places) of the glass software and minimum gauges I need for a multi-engine commercial jet? It doesn't need to match a 737 or 777 exactly, maybe a mix of the two.

I don't know what to get. I have FSX, Acceleration and FSUIPC/Wide.

JSpahn wrote on Aug 2^nd, 2008 at 9:26pm:


There is not just SOME performance boost in the Ellie stuff ...... they are in a completely different league altogether from the FreeFD offering.  For example I am getting an AMAZING difference in the Ellie PFD for framerates over the FreeFD one.... and the features are more accurate.  WELL worth the rather modest price in my opinion. 

As to configuring the pit......... if you are not looking for a 100% fidelity to a specific aircraft...... then you can do a lot with a "mix and match" setup.  The Ellie stuff combined with FSXpand likely should do everything you might need.  Possibly the Ellie stuff alone.

The release of the rest of the Ellie suite will be soon.  I'd suggest that rushing the whole pit building thing by having ALL the software all at once is likely NOT the way to go.  Get one thing working at a time and slowly add complexity.  If you do that..... your installation will probably be ready for the next pieces by the time the Ellie stuff is released.

If you want it all "now", there is always Project Magenta........ but they are pretty aircraft specific.... and the pricetag for an airliner suite is about $2000 USD.  That one give me "sticker shock" 

best,

...................john

Does anyone make an AFFORDABLE CDU? I think the VRInsight model is but it also looks cheap (http://www.vrinsight.com/) to me. The display isn't right.

Since Ellie doesn't have a CDU, who would you choose? The current plan is to use a Lilliput 8" Touch Screen for the CDU. I just need good software to put on it.

I understand that gauges on screens can be done. I just have never done it before.

Is there something I can demo that will show this? I have seen enough sims on the net to know that they use LCD or CRT's and obviously can move them around for placement.

I was asking more about the Engravity panel---how will it allow for a monitor for the stand by gauges? It doesn't look like a separate monitor will fit there and the single monitor doesn't look to be large enough to cover the area.

stevehookem wrote on Aug 11^th, 2008 at 12:21am:


My understanding is that the Engravity stuff is sized for a SPECIFIC monitor to sit behind the "fake" panel cutouts.  Like most pits...... clearances are usually VERY tight and mounting is critical.  It is all very size specific.  Usually the standbys are on the same monitor that holds the ND or the upper engine instrument displays.

Your best resopurce for that kind of specific information is the Engravity website, their forums, and their support email line.  If they want to sell you their components... they should be able to answer those kinds of questions with very specific instructions/answers.

best,

.................john